The Tribes on the Andaman Islands

The Great Andamanse tribe on Strait Island, north of Port Blair was once the largest tribe on the Andaman Island group but it has now reduced to around thirty residents. They continue as fishermen using small wooden canoes and as hunters in the forests.

The tribe residing on Little Andaman Island, the Onges, have adopted more modern day attitudes and mannerisms, for instance they now wear clothes and grow wheat and rice for their needs, whereas the North Sentinelese on North Sentinel Island remain as collectors of food.

The North Sentinelese tribe will utilize crude (but effective) bows and arrows to protect themselves whenever they feel that their freedom is threatened and it is this continuation of hostility that has resulted in them remaining in isolation and somewhat naive of any modern civilizations or world advancements. However, the other tribe on North Sentinel Island, the once hostile Jarawas, are beginning to show some signs of friendliness towards outsiders.

Important: Tourists and visitors to the islands are strictly prohibited from establishing any form of direct contact with the tribal communities. Some tribes remain hostile to outsiders and, as they are isolated communities, they are without any natural immunity from disease and are therefore more prone to infection from the outside world. Also you not want to end-up with a arrow sticking out your chest 500 kilometers from the nearest hospital....